Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-14

tlemen OF the c. ntennlal committee Of Clln-
ton.
Prof. Hoyt made brief address of vel
come to which the President responded in a
few words. The Utica Jacksonians with the
~ U. S. Infantry Band, saluted the Pres
iient and hIs wife and with its famous cheer
and ''HaIl to the Chief as they stood upon
the platform of the coach. Crowded trains
have b. en- running to Clinton all the morn
ing The Presidents special train started at
9 Is A. NJ. An immense crowd was at the
Ontario and Western railroad station as the
train pulled out. They cheered the Presi-
dent and waved their hats as he stood un-
covered and bowed his Acknowledgements.
CLINTON, N. Y, July l3.
When the Presidents party arrived here,
about 10 O'Clock, it was at once escorted to
the residence of Mrs. D T Williams
At ii the President and Mrs. Cleveland
proceeded TO the reviewing stand in the park,
around which the people had congregated so
densely that it was almost impossible to clear
the way. Among the features of the pro-
cesson was Black Hawk chief and a band
of Oneida Indians. There were over a thou
sand men in line. There was but one post
of the Grand Army of the Republic in line,
that of Clinton. Shortly after the process
sion had been reviewed the literary exer-
cises began on the same platform. The ex
ercises consisted of PRAYER by President
Darling of the Hamilton College, address of
welcome by Rev. E. r. Powell of Clinton,
and the following address by the President:
l am bv no means rtain Of my standing
here among those who celebrate the centen-
NAL of ClInton's existence as a village. My
recollectiOns of the place reach backward
but abou, thirty-slx years and my residence
here covered very bret peri ID, but these
recoliectlons are fresh a..d di,tluct today. and
pheasant 100, though not entirely free from
som q. cDi0rings
1t was htre in the school at the foo: of
College Hill that began my preparation fer
college life and eI wed he anticip Oh of
collegiate education. We had two teachers
in our school. One became afterwards a
judge III Chicago and he other passed through
the legal profession to the ministry, and
within the last two years was living farther
west. | read hti~ Latin with two other
boys in the class l thick / houndered through
tour books of the EIeld. The other boys
had nice, large, modern editions of Vlr2H,
with biR print and plenty OF notes to help one
over The hard places Mine was little,
old fashioned copy, which my father used be-
fore me, with no notes, and " hich was onl,
translated BY hard knocks / believe | have
forgiven those other boys for their persistent
refusal TO allow me the use of their notes III
their books.
AT any rate they do not seem to have
been overtasen by any dire retfibutioD, for
one of them Is now rich and prosperous
lawyer in Buffalo and the other is a profes-
s0r IN your college, aud the orator in today's
Iteration. The struggles with the ten
lines of Virgil which at tir>t made up my
daily task are amusing, as remembered now,
but with them am also forced to remember
that instead of being the ginning of a high
er education for which honestly longed,
they occurred near the end of my school ad
vantages. This suggests disappointment
which no lapse of time can alleviate.
| don't know that should indulge in fur
ther recollections that must seem very little
like centennial history. but | know that you
will bear with me, my friends, if | yield to
the impulse which the mention of home
creates and speak of my home here and how
| may clsim tender relationship to your
village.
can only add my thanks for the privilege
of being with you today, and the wish, for
the village of Clinton in the future, contin-
uation and increase of the blessings of the
past
Following the exerciees came banquet, at
which several eminent gentlemen responded
to toasts, including Pr sidant Cleveland, who
spok to the theme, ''ihe President of the
United States"
am inclined to content myself on this oc-
casion with an acknowledgement on behalf
of the pc, pie of the United States of the
compliment YOU have paid to the office which
repr, MS their sovereigntv. But such an
acknowle cement suggests an idea which
cannot refrain from dwelling upon for mo-
hat th, nfEn Of hn ft
the United States does represent the sover
eighty of sixty millions of people is to my
mind a statement full of solemnitv. For this
sovereignty | CONCEIVE TO be working out or
the enforce ment of the divine gift of man to
govern himself and the manifestation of
Gods plan concerning the human race.
Though the struggles of pJliticaI parties
to secure the ncumbency of this office and
the questionable methods sometimes resOrted
to for its possession, may not be IN keeping
with this idea, and though deceit is prsctlsed
to mlsead people in their choice, aud its too
FREQUENT influence on their suffrage may sur
prise us, these things shOald never tear US
astray in our estimate of tins tx ilted position
and Its value and dignity, and though your
fellow citiz n who may be chosen to perform
for time the duties of this highest place
should he badly selected. and though the best
attainahe re, ults nav not be reached by his
admlnistra, ion vet ,he exacting wstchfulness
Of the peop e, freed from the DISTURBING tur-
moil of political excItem nj, ought to pre-
vent mischance to the office which represents
their sovereignty aud should reduce to a min
im I'm the dan ger of hatm to the ) ate
[ by no means under estimate the import
snee Of he utmost care and circumspection
IN the selection of an incumbent. On the
contrary, | believe there is no obg ,tlsn of
cltiz epship that demands more thought and
cons cIeutlous dehberatirn than this, but
aus speaking of a citizens duty TO the Office
and its selected incumbent This duty is
only perform ed when the interest Of the en-
tire people, the full exercise of the powers OF
the chief msgistrscy is insisted on, and when
for the peoples safety due regard for limits
lions placed upon the office is exscted These
thing. should be enforced by the manifesto
ton of a calm and enlightened public opin-
ion. But this should not be stimulated by
the mad clamor of disappointed interest, which,
without regard for general good or allowance
for the exercise of official Judgment, would
degrade the office by forcing compliance
with selfish demands. II your President
should not be of the people and one of your
fellow citizens, he would be utterly unfit for
the position, incapable Of understanding the
peoples wants and careless of their desires.
That he is one of the people implies that he
is subject to human frailty and error, but he
should be permitted to claim but little toler-